Well-measuring device



R. C. MASON. W ELL MEASURING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 28| 192|.

1,408, 1 1,3. Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

'Z ATTORNEYS RICHARD COLBERT MASON, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

WELLMEAsURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

Application filed January 28, 1921. Serial No. 440,664.

'0 all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD C. MASON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tulsa, -in the county of Tulsal and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Well-Measuring Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to geometrical instruments especially adapted for ascertaining the depth of wells and the like.

An important. object of this invent-ion is to provide a measuring device which may be conveniently mounted on the upper end of the wel-l casing and engaged with the cable of the drill or the sand line for indicating to the attendant the distance which the cable extends into the Well.

A further object is to provide a device of the class described which is simple to operate, accurate in use and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same Figure 1 is aside elevation of the improved measuring device in use.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4is a detail sectional view illustrat'ing the means for connecting the screw to the head.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the `numeral`5 generally designates vthe frame, of the appa# ratus or measuring device, which frame is preferably cast in a single piece and includes spaced sides 6 and 7 and end pieces; 8 and 9. v

The end pieces 8 and 9 of the frame are formed with aligned recesses or openings 10 for the reception of the cable 12 of the well drilling apparatus. -As illustrated in Fig. ures 1 and 2 the cable 12 extends through the aligned openings 1() andis held within the opening by means of pivoted latches or keepers 14 which extend across one side of the opening and thereby'retain the cable within the opening. When desired, however, thecable may be removed from the opening by elevating the latches 14 Whereupon the device may be moved laterally away from the cable. a

A pair of spaced parallel bearing plates 15 are secured at their ends to opposite sides or edges of the end pieces 8 and 9 and as illustrated in Figure 2 the lates 15 receive the reduced end portions o the supporting axles 18 of a plurality of pulleys or grooved Wheels 20. The grooved Wheels 20 which are arranged between the bearing plates areV all arranged in the samevertical plane and are adapted to be engaged with the cable 12 so that as the cable is moved longitudinally the wheels will all be rotated in the same direction.

A sprocket wheel 22 is rigidly secured on each axle 18 and is engaged by a continuous sprocket chain 24 'which causes all pulley wheels to rotate together and in the same direction.

The reduced end portion 26 of the intermediate axle is extended beyond one of the bearing plates 15 and is adapted to be connected with the operating member 28 of a length indicating register 30. The register 30 which is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 may be of any type and is provided with attaching arms 32 having laterally projecting terminal portions secured to one of the bearing plates 15 by means of fastening devices 34. vThe meter` 3() may of course be readily detached when desired.

A pair of tensioning pulleys 36 are arranged. 'on one side. of the cable to contact with the same and are adapted tomove the cable firmly into contact with the pulleys 20 `so that the pulleys 20 will be caused to rotatel when the cab-le 12 is raised or lowered in the well. As illustrated in Figure 1, the tensioning members 36 are arranged in planes which extend between thepulleys 20 so that the cable will be caused to curve omewhat about the peripheries vof the puleys.

Tensioning pulleys 36 are carried by a triangular head 39 which is operated by means of a screw 40 having rigid connection with an operatin crank 41. The screw 40extends through a racket 42 and through the side piece 7 of the frame. The head 39 of the tensioning rollers or Wheels 36 is passed between a pair of guide plates 45 which are secured on opposite sides of the frame by means of fastening devices 46.

In use the handle of the crank 11 is rotated by the operator so as to advance the screw 40 whereupon the head 39 and the rollers are advanced. When the rollers 36 are thus advanced the cable l12 is urged into engagement with the rollers 20 whereby the longitudinal movement of the cable 12 will result in the rotation of the rollers. 0f course, any desired tension may be applied to the cable 12 by merely adjusting the screw 40 by means of' the hand operated crank 41.v It will be observed that the guide plates 45 secured on opposite sides of the frame prevent the head from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the screw 40 when the screw is rotated.

The improved meter may be arranged on the rupper end of thel well casing 50 for measuring the `depth of the well either during insertion or removal of the cable.

Of course, when the device is attached prior to withdrawing the cable, the same is arranged in a position opposite that from where the device is attached prior to the insertion of the cable. The cable is engaged with the grooved rollers 20 by moving the tensionin rollers 36 firmly into Contact with the cab e. When one of the rollers 20 fails to rotate by the movement of the cable, the other rollers will by reason of the friction be engaged with the tensioning means and be rotated so that all of the rollers 20 will be rotated together. 'i

As illustrated in Figure 4a coiled spring mounted on the operating screw 40 is confined between the rear side of the head 39 and anannular member 62 securely connected to the screw. It is thus seen that the operating screw 40 is freely movable through the head 39 and that the coiled spring 60 provides a yieldable driving connectionl between the feed screw 40 and the head 39. The head 39 and the rollers 36 carried thereby are yieldablyurged into position and when an enlargement on the rope .or cable 12 strikes thewheel 36, the head 39 moves rearwardly to a limited extent.

Having thus fully described my invention vwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A measuring device comprising a frame having bearing plates, pulleys carried by said plates, means connecting the pulleys, a head having a plurality of rollers adapted for urging a cab e `into driving engagement with said pulleys, a tensioning screw threaded through said frame and connected to said head, and a hand operated crank rigidly connected to said/screw and adapted to be rotated for urging said tensioning rollers in the direction of said pulleys.

2. A measuring device for Wells comprising a frame, pulleys carried by said frame, a

yhead having rollers adapted for urging the cable into driving engagement with said pulleys, a tensioning screw threaded through said frame and connected to said head, a

pulleys, a tensioning screw threaded through said frame and connected to said head and having means whereby the same may be rotated for advancing said head in the direction of said pulleys, means secured to said frame on opposite sides of `said head for guiding the head, and a guide bracket secured to saidframe and having an opening receiving said screw.

4. A measuring device comprising a frame having oppositely arranged bearing plates, pulleys carried by said plates, means connecting the pulleys, a head having rollers adapted for urging a cable into driving engagement with said ulleys, a tensioning screw threaded throug said frame and connected to said head, means connected to said screw and adapted to be rotated for urging said tensioning rollers in the direction of said pulleys, and a length indicating Iregister operated by one of said pulleys.

5. A well measuring device comprising a frame, a pulley carried thereby, a tensioning head having rollers arranged adjacent opposite sides of said pulley and adapted for urging the cable into driving engagement with the pulley, a tensioning screw threaded through said frame and connected to said head, a guide bracket carried by said frame and having an opening receiving said tensioning screw, and gulding means for said head. l

- RICHARD COLBERT MASON. 

